Thomas B.'s Profile

I have to admit I was expecting more from SMoCA.  The only thing that the museum suffers from is it's size.  It's small and the jury is still out on whether or not that is a bad thing.  The exhibits I saw "space is the place" and a collection of modern masterpieces from a local families collection was very very impressive.  

Flow throughout the gallery space was quite nice though leaves you wanting much more.  The architecture by Bruder is minimal and to the point which is quite refreshing.  If you visit don't snooze on the great James Carpenter Glass installation and the James Turrell skyscape on your left as you enter the museum.  

The gift shop was nice and had some great art/design books.   I would've liked to pick up a "space is the place" poster but they didn't have any.  Definitely recommended for the quirky exhibits and of course the Turrell and Carpenter installations.  Wait...maybe I did get what I expected out of SMoCA.  

My bad, SMoCA.

Super cozy diner.  It's small and doesn't have much of a street presence so it's fairly easy to miss if you aren't paying attention.  The diner is a classic boxcar that stays true to it's roots.  The outdoor seating area looks quite enjoyable for a late night snack, though I'm not sure if they are open that late.  Gotta love the outdoor ordering window.  You're best best inside is if you can catch a seat at the corner of the counter.  You not only get a great view of the chef doing the cooking but have a nice fat fan behind you to cool you off.  

We arrived shortly after it opened and chatted with the cook to get his suggestions on what to order.  Very friendly and funny.  The counter's got various coffee table books full of quotes and handy worst case scenario answers.  

I had the Garfield which was a fried egg sandwich specialty.  I can't really recall all the ingredients but the salsa in the sandwich was amazing.  My girlfriend ordered the grilled cheese and it was knock out.  Prepared with olive oil, it was by far one of the best grilled cheeses I've ever had.  The french fries were done just right and the seasoning on them really hit the spot.  The total for both of us including a couple of ice teas was under twenty dollars.  A great deal anywhere.

Just a friendly reminder that it is CASH ONLY!  I had to run to a couple of nearby gas station ATMs since the first was out of order.  Pretty embarrassing but the chef didn't seem to mind and trusted us to return.  Can't complain about any part of the meal and would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Phoenix or any locals that have been snoozing on this gem.

Red Bowl's a downtown worker's dream lunch spot.  Or at least it's mine!  

The food is incredible, cheap and dangerously filling and the service is quick.
Afternoon bout with drowsiness after a Red Bowls lunch?  Check.  

Basically it's a donburi joint where you choose from tens of different toppings for your rice bowl.  I typically go with a mixed chicken terriyaki and bulgogi bowl.  The bim bop is delicious and the veggie meals are quite tasty and refreshing.  I still have not managed to try any of the sushi bowls though.

NOTICE:  If you're concerned about the plastic bowls they serve their meals in, I recommend just bringing your own.  They will serve you with your own bowl.

Scholz is one of those spots in Austin that I kick myself for not discovering earlier.  A great outdoor patio, I can only imagine what it's like on a gameday, imagine only because I think I'd rather avoid the madness of that.  I'll take my Scholz on an empty sunny afternoon.  

The draft list is impressive and the food excellent.  I believe it's owned by the same people who own the green mesquite.  Either place you cannot lose.  Amazing patio spaces, great service and killer eats.

One of the dozens of places that have me doubting my decision to move away from Austin.  

I've never had a bad experience here.  The service has always been solid and quick and the food always top. The draft lineup could use some work but honestly that's the only thing I'd change about this BBQ joint.

I headed back to Austin for a spur of the moment vacation.  Mother Nature decided to play the bitch card and make my ideal summer vacation more like a sauna.  Rain, rain, and some hot hot heat.  Since when does Austin feel like Houston!?  Nonetheless, the Fusebox was a welcome refuge.  I ordered the grilled prawns bento and was not disappointed.  Everything was spot on tasty and cheap!  I'm not sure how to describe it.  Minimal.  Nothing fussy, just damn good cuisine.  The avocado salad was pure genius, the spicy melon balls a feast, and the prawns were excellent.  I snacked on a few friends meals and I must say everything on the menu is in one word refreshing.  Great cuisine at a very reasonable price.  Highly recommended for young and old.  Definitely UT's newest gem.

I recommend grabbing a seat at the bar to talk with chef/owner John as he cooks your meal and others.  Quite a treat.  Oh and don't forget the Fusebox is BYOB.

cheers to that.

I hate to give such a low rating, but after visiting a Trader Vic's in Dallas, Texas of all places this spot has to step up to even itself with the other locations.
The drinks were decent and the typical flair was missing from the drinks.  Disappointing.  The food was tasty and quite filling, but everything else seemed a little off.  Even the decor was slightly off....BUT  I think I'll head back make sure my first visit wasn't a fluke because my experience in Dallas was so much better.

One of the many essential spots in Seattle to take your out of town guests.  

Sure, it's a little cheesy but it seems everyone's always asking people upon their return if they saw the Troll.  Be a good host and don't disappoint.  Just let them get devoured by the Troll.  C'mon...do it.

I've never made it out for dinner at Etta's, I've only had brunch and that I can highly recommend.  After a late night, there's no place better to get some upscale comfort food to straigten me up.  It also doubles as my place to take my out of town guests before letting them loose in the Market and of course averting my eyes.  

The poached eggs is also a crowd pleaser.  I typically go with either the french toast or etta's breakfast which consists of eggs, toast, bacon or chicken sausage from the market, and potatoes.  On the weekends, it's best to call ahead to get reservations to avoid a wait.

I'll be the first to admit that I did not expect to be so blown away by the reopening of the downtown SAM.  Walking by it for months and watching the building grow and the exterior facade come together should have done it for me...but it didn't.  The facade does nothing for me and I feel it's rather boring.  Thankfully an art museum is not about the exterior it's whats inside...the collection and  I can say that SAM finally has an excellent space to showcase their impressive and growing collection.   I haven't seen an exhibit that really excited me since the Isamu Noguchi, which was short but still a great exhibit.  

Enough of the history of uninspiring exhibits at SAM, let's talk about today.  The collection is finally able to burst from the tired old museum (can one building have any more one liners than the old Venturi-Scott Brown design?) and just exist in it's entirety.  The new spaces are spacious and enjoyable to walk around.  There's a small Flavin, a couple nice Judd and Ruscha pieces, and not to mention an incredibly diverse collection ranging from Asian to African to English Porcelain to Egyptian Pottery to...ok.  I hope you got the point.  

The flow of the museum is nice, but I found myself backtracking in some areas to catch a few things that I missed.  Could be me or could be the museum floorplan....Time will tell.  There are some great city views from the galleries and it's sad that the Four Seasons will be blocking some of it.  So run out and enjoy it before construction erases the view.  

This museum will probably never live up to a collection like the MOMA or the Whitney, but I think it definitely puts it's foot in the door.  Let's hope with the new expansion that they are finally able to bring in new exciting artists and awe-inspiring masters for exhibits.